Search - That's My Bush! The Definitive Collection on DVD

Richard C. (colbertnotion) from LA FAYETTE, GA
Reviewed on 10/8/2009...

from Amazon.com
From the creators of South Park, That's My Bush is two--two!--parodies in one. Matt Stone and Trey Parker take aim at both President George W. Bush and the two-camera sitcom. (Not necessarily in that order.) The acting is over-the-top, the laugh track is on steroids, and George (Timothy Bottoms, The Last Picture Show) is more dopey husband than dopey leader. He even has his own Ralph Kramden-like catch phrase: "One of these days, Laura, I'm gonna punch you in the face!" Laura Bush (Carrie Quinn Dolin) is the brains behind the marriage, while Karl Rove (Kurt Fuller, Auto Focus) is the brains behind the Oval Office. The West Wing is rounded out by sexy secretary Princess (Kristen Miller), sassy housekeeper Maggie (Marcia Wallace, The Bob Newhart Show), and wacky neighbor Larry (John D'Aquino). Though That's My Bush! may sound like liberal propaganda, Stone and Parker throw darts at the Left, too, like the surly pro-choice activist in the pilot ("An Aborted Dinner Date").

That's My Bush! ran for eight episodes, all pre-9/11, before Comedy Central pulled the plug, citing cost concerns rather than low ratings. Topics tackled include the death penalty, gun control, and the war on drugs. If the humor isn't always as "gut-busting" as its writers, including Tony Barbieri (Windy City Heat), seem to think, the show provides Bottoms with one of his best roles. Next to Homer Simpson and Al Bundy, it's hard to imagine a more hapless hubbie. This two-disc collection includes mini-commentaries (a few minutes a pop) from Stone, Parker, and the entire cast on each episode. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Product Description
That’s My Bush!, the live-action series from South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, offers a glimpse of life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as George W. makes his debut in his very own prime time television show. The challenge to the country’s newest President is in balancing the volatile issues of the day with his equally demanding personal life in this parody of the classic sitcom genre.

Not Satire, Parody

Michael Burton | Columbus, OH USA | 10/30/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're looking for hard-hitting political satire, save your money. Although it has actors playing George W. Bush, Laura Bush and Karl Rove, "That's My Bush" is not remotely about the real Bush administration.

Rather, the show is a parody of formulaic television. The premise is a standard family situation comedy about an ordinary doofus whose job just happens to be President of the United States. Tour groups walk through the living room during family fights. An obnoxious neighbor walks right in whenever he likes. The laugh track is one of the most important elements of the show, over-reacting to deliberately lame jokes and supplying dirty hoots whenever the president's dumb blonde secretary walks into a room. There's a tagline (clearly inspired by The Honeymooners) repeated at the end of every episode, with the "audience" joining in: "One of these days, I'm gonna punch you right in the face."

Each episode combines a serious topic with a timeworn TV situation: drug control and trouble with the mother-in-law, or missile defense and an illegal cable-TV hookup. Don't expect any light to be shed on the serious topics. It's all played for laughs.

If you're easily offended, save your money. There aren't many subjects Matt Stone and Trey Parker consider off-limits. The show isn't as scatological as South Park, but if you're prone to offense-taking, Stone and Parker are out to get you, and they're almost certainly going to succeed. If you can take it, there is some hilarious stuff here.

It's good there were only 8 episodes -- many more would have run the risk of turning it into one more goofy situation comedy.

Each episode includes an audio commentary track with Stone and Parker, and another commentary track with the entire regular cast. But, if you buy DVDs primarily for the "extras," save your money. Each commentary lasts only a few minutes at the beginning of the episode. There are no other extras.

If, in spite of all these warnings to save your money, you buy this anyway -- well, I think you'll enjoy it. I did."

Not for everyone....but it should be! ;)

Mark Slonsky | Kanagawa -Ayase-Shi, JAPAN | 09/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you enjoy your political satire thick with double entendres and really morbidly twisted views; then this is for you. Fans of Southpark might have to be a bit higher on the intelligence scale to understand some of the jokes but, for those of us who have gotten older and still appreciate this duos still going strong famous show...well...it's time to graduate. Sadly this got cancelled before it could be even more relevant. Not only is the president presented as a bumbling idiot...he is presented as a bumbling idiot who tries not to be. Episodes mock all of the current hot button issues of the time while at the same time making a mockery of all 2 camera sitcoms in general. Enjoy the cheesy-ness that is Golden Girls and any other vapid 'teen' sitcom with hollow characters? Then this one is for you. Annoying neighbors, smartass maids, and ditzy sexpot blondes; they are all here! Enjoy what is soon to become a solid cult classic with the dvd release. Where else are you going to see what Stone and Parker can do with a live cast other than whatever future films they attempt to make?"

A crime

Mike Fried | Woodmere, New York United States | 09/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yeah, it's a crime that this series didn't last more than a handful of episodes and a bigger crime that that we have had to wait 5 years for the DVD. Not only a great spoof of Dubya, this is an even greater spoof of the sitcom format."